February 11, 2015

I have to say, bareMinerals is really knocking it out of the park lately. Pretty much everything I've tried from them in recent memory has immediately entered into my makeup rotation permanently, which is pretty damn impressive considering the ridiculous amount of products I have. And now I'm also sneaking in their new Complexion Rescue, because it's just that good. Complexion Rescue is described as a "tinted hydrating gel cream" and to me, it's sort of a cross between a tinted moisturizer and a light coverage foundation. What I love about it is that even though it goes on lightly, you can add more for more coverage and even with only one layer, I still feel like it covers evenly and enough to make it comparable to a sheerer foundation. It also has a broad spectrum SPF 30, so it gives me sun protection on top of the sunscreen I wear every day, which I love because it takes me all of five minutes in the Los Angeles sun to start turning red. The formula has all sorts of benefits to it too - it's mineral-based and combines all the best qualities of a BB, a CC, and a tinted moisturizer to give your skin extra hydration. I apply it with my fingers because I feel like it gives me the best coverage and it's the easiest to blend that way, but you can definitely apply with a brush if you'd like. It's perfect for the warmer weather that we're having in L.A. right now - it was 86 degrees today. (Sorry, east coasters!) If you're a fan of tinted moisturizers or light coverage foundations, this one's definitely worth checking out!

Note: A sample of the above item was sent to me by a PR representative working with bareMinerals

January 06, 2015

I am all about the facial peels, but as much as I'm willing to suffer for beauty, some of them are just a tiny bit too painful for me. So I was a little reluctant to try StriVectin's 5-Minute Weekly Glycolic Peel at first, only because I'm kind of a wuss. (And also because I wanted it to be great and I was worried I'd have to wash it off prematurely and that would've been super disappointing). It's the simplest and quickest peel ever - step one is to put on the Detoxifying Primer and leave it on for one minute to let it detoxify and prime your skin. Then, on top of that, you apply a layer of the Activator (step two) and leave it on for three to five minutes before removing it all with a damp towel. So fast and easy! And the best part? I felt some tingling to show that it was working, but it wasn't painful at all. Love that! When I rinsed it off, my skin was definitely pinker than normal, but it wasn't super red like it has been with other peels, and it didn't take a long time before it was back to normal. (So this isn't one of those treatments you need to do on like, a Friday night and not leave the house again until Sunday. You will not be living a "Sex and the City" episode). You're supposed to use it one or two times a week and I've been doing it twice (I need all the help I can get, people!) I've only done it four times so far, but I do think it's working. My skin definitely seems to glow a little more after I've used it and I'm curious to see if I'll notice even more of a change after four weeks (the time the packaging says more results are visible). But if you're looking for a quick, easy and painless (at least for me!) weekly peel, I can't recommend this one enough. Scoop one up immediately!

Note: A sample of the above item was sent to me by a PR representative working with StriVectin

November 17, 2014

I like nothing more than a good anti-aging product because I feel like I put a lot of effort into my skin care routine (even though it changes a lot) so I damn well want to stay looking young (ish...) for as long as possible. Otherwise, what's the damn point? But the one area where I'm not quite as diligent is with facial peels - mainly just because some of them take awhile and they can get messy and also, I sometimes just forget about them because they're in my closet and not out in my bathroom. But then I got my hands on June Jacobs' new Intensive Age Defying Peel Pads and now I'm totally on top of it. (I expect to look 23 again any day now!) They're the easiest things in the world to use - you get a jar with 60 pads in it that resemble what I remember Clearasil pads looking like (from my actual youth...) and you just swipe it over your face and neck whenever you want to use one. The pads are paraben and preservative free, and they're infused with a combination of of lactic, phytic, glycolic acids and retinol to help promote cell turnover and reduce the appearance of fine lines, large pores and skin discoloration. I have sensitive skin and I've been using these 4-5 times a week without any problems at all, so I feel like I'm getting the best of both possible worlds - a strong anti-aging formula without any harsh chemicals or irritants. It's pretty amazing. And I really feel like they're working - it's obviously hard to tell anything about the anti-aging properties since I've only been using them three weeks or so, but my skin is definitely bright and glowing so even just that makes me happy. I would definitely buy these again after my supply runs out, which is a pretty high compliment considering how much stuff gets sent to me. (Also, I got carded at a bar last weekend, which I'm just going to pretend is due to these and made me very, very happy. After that ego boost, I'll never let my supply run out!)

Note: A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with June Jacobs

October 30, 2014

I mean, I know that I say I need a lot of things, but this? This I REALLY need. The Urban Decay Naked Vault is my one must have this holiday season, although it's already sold out on Urban Decay AND Sephora's websites, so that might prove a little difficult. For $280, it's a veritable treasure trove of Naked goodness. Here's what you'll find in the vault:

That is an amazing collection of products everyone would use all the time. And if you bought all the products individually, it would be $360, so you're saving a whopping $80, which is a pretty great deal. You could even pick one up, keep all the things you don't already have, and give the rest away as individual presents. (Or you could keep it all for yourself because, you know, it's the holidays!) This is definitely one of the top gifts everyone'll be lusting after this season, so if you catch it back in stock, snatch it up before it goes away again. And then smile to yourself, knowing that everyone who doesn't get one will be very, very jealous of you.

October 22, 2014

I've had three different Clarisonics now (and convinced at least four other people to buy them as well) so I think we can safely say that I'm a fan. I love the way it works, how easy it is, and how amazingly clean my skin always feels after I use it. I hike a lot so I use a high SPF stick sunscreen on my face and while I love the way it protects my skin, it can be hard to get off. If I'm ever feeling lazy and just use a face wipe to clean my skin afterwards, I totally notice a difference between how it feels when I've used my Clarisonic. (Hint - the answer is much dirtier). So I was super excited to try the new Sonic Radiance Brightening Solution Kit. For $249, the set includes the Clarisonic Aria device with a Clarisonic Radiance Brush Head (brand new!) and a Skin Iluminating Cleanser, Brightening Activator Serum and Skin Peel Wash to follow the skin care routine they lay out for you in the instructions. (The daily morning routine is called Radiance Recovery and uses the cleanser and the serum, the daily nighttime routine is called Texture Renewal and uses the Skin Peel Wash and the serum). I've been using it for a few weeks now and my skin is super soft and glowy and it feels so, so clean afterwards. The entire system is meant to combat the appearance of hyperpigmentation, acne-induced discoloration, uneven skin tone and dullness and it's the first time Clarisonic has introduced a leave-on treatment. I like it because I don't have to think at all - I can use my beloved Clarisonic with the perfect pairing of products, so it's even better than just buying a "regular" Clarisonic. I seriously can't recommend it enough. Buy one for yourself, buy one as a gift for someone, buy one just for the hell of it... You can't go wrong!

Note: A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Clarisonic

September 22, 2014

I've been hiking a lot lately, which is great for burning calories, not so great for shielding your face from the sun. Even though I wear a baseball hat and sunglasses, it seems like no matter what I do, my face still gets sun. So I brought out the big guns - Neutrogena's UltraSheer Face & Body Stick Sunscreen. I LOVE that it's in stick form - it makes it super portable, plus it's the easiest thing ever to apply. (I only use it on my face - I still use spray sunscreen on my body so I can reach everywhere). Its rounded shape lets you glide it all over your face without missing a spot (I usually cover my face at least twice, just to be safe) and it's not at all greasy or oily, so you don't look like you just covered yourself with cooking spray. (Hey, you never know who you're going to meet on the trails!) I really love that it's a high SPF too. I'm so fair that I always like to use the highest one I can, so knowing that I'm covering my face in an SPF 70 just makes me feel better when I'm heading out for an hour and a half in the blazing sun. The only tiny problem I have with it is that I keep it on my bathroom counter and because it's shaped exactly like deodorant, sometimes when I'm half-asleep in the mornings, I don't pay attention and twice now I've sunscreened under my arms. (Even for someone as anal about sun protection as me, that's overkill!) So I think I'm going to start keeping it in my gym bag instead, which should solve that (ridiculous) problem. But if you're not a zombie in the mornings, this definitely won't be a problem for you. Stock up and start protecting your skin in style!

June 23, 2014

I almost never break out anymore (which, thank God - I mean, there should be some damn benefits to getting older!) but I've had the worst cold for the past week and somehow at the same time, also managed to acquire the hugest zit of all time on my cheek. My cheek! Even during my teenage years, I never had one single pimple on my cheek. It looks ridiculous. (Luckily, due to the cold, I haven't left my condo very much so at least I'm not scaring small children with it). I don't have many products in my arsenal for acne because I so rarely need them, but I did have this tube of Ole Henricksen's Roll-On Acne Clearing Solution taking up precious space in my medicine cabinet (it's prime real estate in there!) so I finally decided to try it out. And thank God I'd held onto it for some reason because it's awesome. It seems like it's drying out the blemish faster than I remember them going away (it's only the size of like, Los Angeles right now, not all of California anymore). And the roll-on aspect of it makes it super easy to apply - you can take it with you and quickly reapply anywhere without even getting your hands dirty. It also makes it easy to only put the solution where you want it so you don't dry out the rest of your face. I may not need it very often, but I'm super happy I know that I have it now for the next time I need it. (Hopefully not any time soon...) Now if only it could take care of this cold too...

June 10, 2014

I recently ran out of my facial exfoliator and instead of shelling out major money I decided to take a trip to Target to see what I could find. I am so beyond glad I did because for five bucks I picked up the very best facial scrub I've ever used! Nourished and Smooth Oatmeal Scrub and Mask by St. Ives is absolutely fantastic (kind of shocking since I abandoned using the St Ives Apricot scrub when I was a teen). First of all it's so gentle on the face so even those of us with sensitive skin can use it without making our faces freak out. Second, it does a great job of exfoliating (I've noticed a dramatic change already!) and leaves skin feeling super soft. It smells lovely and doesn't contain all the icky chemicals so many drugstore brands contain (this one boasts 100% natural exfoliants, Sulfate free, Oil-free, Hypoallergenic, Dermatologist tested and Non-comedogenic). I really can't say enough good things about it and just how fantastic it is. I ran back out immediately and bought several more tubes to keep on hand for fear of it being discontinued (I'm crazy like that). Definitely worth a check out - you won't be disappointed!

May 28, 2014

It's been awhile since I tried a foundation that I absolutely fell in love with, so I was really excited when I got the chance to try the new Bareskin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation. I'd been hearing such good things about it, but I was still cautiously optomistic because, well, one person's holy grail product is another person's throw it in the back of the drawer and forget all about it. So I'm very happy to report that it has more than lived up to the hype for me. It has a thin consistency, which I like, especially for summer, but the coverage is definitely buildable, although I find that I only need one layer to give me good coverage (and I like a medium amount of coverage). I tried it with the Bareskin Perfecting Face Brush, which is also kind of awesome. It has sort a... hollowed out part in the bristles where you put a few drops of the foundation and then buff it onto your face. I really, really like the way it applies the foundation. The coverage is smooth and even and blends in perfectly. Definitely a worthy purchase if you're buying the foundation (and even if you just need a foundation brush). The foundation itself is also a serum (hence the name) so if you're really lazy and hate more than one step in your skin care routine, this foundation is definitely for you! I love the fact that it feels so light on - I HATE heavy foundations and this is definitely not that. I also like that it's hypoallergenic, noncomedogenic, and dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested. My sensitive skin doesn't need any more reasons to freak out and the formula on this doesn't give them any. But mostly, I just really like the coverage it gives me and how natural it looks. For their first liquid foundation, they've really knocked this one out of the park. Well done, bareMinerals!

Note: A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with bareMinerals

May 05, 2014

If I could get facials every month, I totally would (along with a massage every week because... why not?) Facials just make everything better. But alas, my budget does not allow for me to swing by Burke Williams every time the mood strikes me, so I have to make due with products most of the time. Enter Bliss' new Micro Magic Spa-Powered Microdermabrasion Treatment. Love this stuff! It's meant to be used twice a week and with ingredients like volcanic pumice, vitamin E, aloe, allantoin and jojoba oils, and peppermint extract, it's like, the perfect microdermabrasion treatment (especially for sensitive skin). It exfoliates without irritating, which is a huge requirement for me, and the oils help to keep the redness away. And it's super easy. You just put a quarter-sized amount on your face, massage it in for a minute or two, then rinse it off. It's the lazy person's holy grail! Afterwards, my skin feels so clean and soft and any flaky dead skin cells are a thing of the past. At $48, it's a little bit of a splurge, but once you factor in how many uses you'll get out of one tube, it's actually a bargain. (Just don't be like me and over-squeeze. Why do I always do that? I know what a quarter looks like! And yet... I squeeze too much all the time. Don't do that!) Overall, this one will take its place of honor in my bathroom with all the rest of their fabulous products. Well done, Bliss. Well done, indeed!

Note: A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Bliss